A good strategy will be to make a jig and put it along the solid black outline of the mat.  Then align your robot with the jig.
 
There are couple of things we followed over the years: (1) Not to rely on the walls in the base.  Remember the mat may be taped to the table and not aligned as per instructions.  And you cannot move it at competition. Rather use the markings/jig in the base to align your robot starting position. (2) Not to rely completely on the wall for positionng the robot on the field.  Yes, we did position the robot using the wall, but only when it was further away from the base (say towards the east end).
 
One year we were running the robot along the wall.  Things worked fine on our practice table.  Walls were smooth.  At competition, the wall has a prior hole drilled for some screw and the screw was removed.  This left imprefection on the inner face of the wall, and our robot was deviating from its path.  Our team got a valuable lesson.
 
Sachin.


On Tue, Oct 8, 2013 at 7:25 AM, Lloyd O'Hara <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
I was going to mention that Steve.  We had issues one year because we did not pay attention to a potenial gap.  Believe me, it was not fun to watch missions that worked all of a sudden not work.
 
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">VA/DC Referee Advisor
To: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">[log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2013 7:22 AM
Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Question on Robo game

Putting a jig against the walls in Base is a fine idea to help provide stability and consistent location.  Please note that many teams have been surprised when they come to a tournament and there's a different gap between the west wall and the mat from what they are accustomed to in practice.  This is s known part of the variability in the robot game (see Rule 42)

Field Setup Instructions:
FIELD MAT PLACEMENT
Step 3 - The mat is smaller than the playing surface by design. Slide and align it so that there is no gap between the south edge of the mat and the south border wall. Center the mat in the east-west direction (look for equal gaps at left and right).

Field Maintenance
Field Mat - Make sure the mat touches the south border wall, and is centered east to west.

Steve Scherr
VA/DC FLL Referee Advisor


On Tue, Oct 8, 2013 at 6:21 AM, Michael Brown <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

They can use that, as long as it all fits inside base. Reminder bass extends to the east wall and the south wall so it can touch the walls in base. in fact I would recommend that you put your jig against a wall.

On Oct 8, 2013 5:21 AM, "Desh Deshmukh" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
What if they use the Base Plate (32x32 studs or 10"x10") from LEGO as long as it fits (and stays) inside the base and not touching wall or secured to the mat and stays  
 
 
No marking is allowed but they can put figurines or some type for missions.
 
Desh Deshmukh

From: Bill Aucoin <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2013 8:30 PM
Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Question on Robo game

4 - EQUIPMENT • EVERYTHING - Everything you use in the competition area directly or indirectly for strategy (mission-related activity) must be made entirely of LEGO-manufactured elements in original factory condition.  Stickers are not allowed, except LEGO stickers, applied per LEGO instructions.  Paint, tape, glue, oil, zip-ties, etc. are not allowed.  
— Exception 1:  You may reference a paper list to keep track of robot programs

Sent from my iPad

On Oct 7, 2013, at 8:24 PM, Lloyd O'Hara <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I don't believe that would be allowed.  Paper is not a Lego product and everything has to be made by Lego.
----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" shape="rect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rajesh Virassamy
To: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" shape="rect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">[log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013 7:59 PM
Subject: [VADCFLL-L] Question on Robo game

Hi,

I'm coaching a rookie team consisting of elementary school kids. One of the kid in our team came up with the idea to place a paper at the base with all the markings to start the motor for the various missions. I'm not sure whether we'd place this paper with the various markings at the base and place the robot on top. I would like to get the input from the community before letting the team know.

Thanks!

Rajesh Virassamy

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